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Beware of the Venue

Hey gang,
I did a 100 poster run for Yonder Mountain String Band for their 2 nights at the Fillmore this past weekend. Band approached me, so I naturally had their permission. I've done one other poster for them at The Fillmore a while back without incident. But times have changed. Apparently The Fillmore no longer allows bands to use The Fillmore's name on any merchandise. Fillmore management confiscated all of the posters and destroyed them (at least they said they were going to) and reimbursed the band for the cost of making the posters (which was generous, but still...).
I don't know how long this new policy has been in effect but it seems like something that will catch on with other like-minded venues. So just keep that in mind when you're crossing your t's and dotting your i's. Beware the venue...

I've had this happen to me once as well. I did work for the band Saves the Day at Stubb's. All bands were stoked. Management paid me. BUT, the venue's promotion team confiscated all the band's copies. The band was pissed. They ended up getting some copies from me and I felt bad that the band had to go through that.

Well this is what happens well a historic venue with a historic poster scene is bought by a large corporation historically know as Ticketmaster You see that even with a total revenue of 5.82 billion, Live Nation Entertainment's net income is in the red and their profit margins are in the negative. So you can see your poster really is more than they can bare ATM. It's nothing personal you just caught them on a bad day/year/decade.

Well this is what happens well a historic venue with a historic poster scene is bought by a large corporation historically know as Ticketmaster You see that even with a total revenue of 5.82 billion, Live Nation Entertainment's net income is in the red and their profit margins are in the negative. So you can see your poster really is more than they can bare ATM. It's nothing personal you just caught them on a bad day/year/decade.

Well said. Here's a list of Live Nation venues (per wikipedia). If you're doing a poster for any of these, I would double check to make sure they're not decorating their dumpsters:

It just illustrates how fortunate we are in Chicago, to have some venues that value posters and treat poster artists like humans.

just got home from Chicago. did the Goat poster for the Empty Bottle show. normally, I usually do not give a print to the venue, as they get their percentage from the bands merch, BUT I was asked very politely by the Bottle if I could bring an extra one, so I did, because I love that place so much.

the LiveNation thing is troubling, especially when they go rogue own their own posters (and not just promo) without the band, or respective management knowing about it. I have had a couple two-poster shows, that the band had no idea of. St. Andrew's, here in Detroit, is starting to sweat the poster thing, but it is more of a clenched fist "are you trying to sneak merch in without reporting it?" type of assault. I have been questioned hard when bringing in prints. Don't worry dude, no need to be a hard ass...the band will tell you how many prints I brought...the merch booth is just steps away from the front door...no one is trying to screw you out of your merch cut you can go back to busting harmless kids for smoking weed during rock shows. pffft.